Simple Baked French Onion Gnocchi Recipe
This Simple Baked French Onion Gnocchi is a comforting and flavorful dish combining caramelized sweet onions, tender gnocchi, and a savory broth base, all baked with a rich layer of melted Gruyere or Swiss cheese. Perfect for cozy dinners, the recipe features slow-cooked onions deglazed with white wine, enhanced with thyme, and finished off with a golden bubbly cheese crust.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1/4 cup white wine
- Salt, to taste
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 2 cups beef broth
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp fresh minced thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb gnocchi (fresh or frozen)
- 1 large sweet onion (thinly sliced)
- 8–10 slices French bread (day-old works best)
- 1 cup shredded Swiss or Gruyere cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the assembled dish later on.
- Caramelize Onions: In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, melt the olive oil and unsalted butter together. Add the thinly sliced sweet onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes until the onions are deeply caramelized and golden brown. Slow cooking the onions allows them to develop a sweet, rich flavor.
- Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom. Add the fresh minced thyme (or dried thyme) and the beef broth, then bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Cook Gnocchi: Add the gnocchi to the simmering mixture and stir occasionally over medium heat for 5-10 minutes until the gnocchi is tender and the sauce has thickened and reduced slightly.
- Season and Transfer: Season the gnocchi and onion mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the mixture to a greased medium baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Add Cheese and Bake: Top the gnocchi evenly with the shredded Swiss or Gruyere cheese. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is nicely melted, bubbly, and lightly browned.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let the gnocchi bake cool slightly. Serve hot with slices of French bread on the side for dipping and enjoying every cheesy, savory bite.
Notes
- Use Gruyere cheese for a deeper, nuttier flavor, or Swiss cheese for a milder taste.
- Day-old French bread works best for dipping because it holds up better and adds texture.
- Slow caramelizing the onions enhances the sweetness and overall flavor, so avoid rushing this step.
- If preferred, vegetable broth can be substituted for beef broth for a lighter flavor.
- Make sure not to overcook the gnocchi in the skillet before baking to avoid mushiness.
Keywords: baked gnocchi, French onion gnocchi, caramelized onions, cheesy gnocchi bake, Gruyere gnocchi, comfort food
